Kid-Friendly Bookstore to Visit in Portland
Kid-Friendly Bookstore to Visit in Portland
If you have yet to go to Sunrise Bookstore on North East Fremont, you are missing out on a lovely kid-friendly bookstore to visit in Portland.
The cozy shop is painted with bright and warm hues of yellows and greens. Classy wooden shelves of excellent books line the walls for all to search through.
Sunrise Books is black-owned. The shop owner, Edith Johnson, is a sweet mother of three, currently pregnant with her and her husband’s fourth child.
Inspired by J.R. Tolkien, Johnson turned her bookstore into a shire paradise for every little kid to explore the world through the pages of books.
When you visit this kid-friendly bookstore, you will encounter the following:
- There is a play area with toys for your little ones to build and turn their fantasies into reality.
- There is a sensory station with sand, beans, playdough, and sometimes more.
- There are tables with arts and crafts just in case your toddler plans to create a book or wants to make art.
- There is a cozy corner for your child to grab a book or two and read to themselves or with a parent.
- Specific activities are available depending on the day and time (check out the upcoming Sunrise events). For example, it is toddler time on Thursdays at 10 am; on Tuesdays, it is baby time.
What to Expect from Events at Sunrise Bookstore:
If you come during a specific event, you can expect singing and dancing led by the shop owner herself. Following the songs, introductions, and instrument playing, reading time begins!
I brought my two sons, a four-year-old and a seven-month-old, to “Sacred Time.” This was a precious reading of a kid-friendly devotion about kindness.
The reading was engaging, followed by questions to entertain the children and short enough to keep their attention.
After the reading, the kids explored the shop and played. Reading time in the corner of the store created a sense of community among the kids and the parents. This made engagements between kids and mothers sweet and natural for the remaining time spent at the store.
While the kids played, the mothers mingled and checked out books.
My time at Sunrise Bookstore was a 5/5 experience, and I recommend a visit. We arrived at 12:30, and two hours passed before we knew it. When it was time to leave, another mom and I struggled to pull our kids away from the shop. They were having so much fun the kids did not want to go.
If you are looking for a place where your kid can meet other kids, have fun, read, learn, and play, this is the place for you!
The bookstore is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.
Check out upcoming events and choose which one you want to visit or stop by during the store’s hours. Although Johnson will be going on maternity leave soon, the shop will remain open as her baby is due in April.
To support the store and the owner and stay updated on events, check out the site and follow Instagram.
